Issue 33 | February 4, 2022 |
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Dear Faculty, Staff, and Trainees:
In honor of Black History Month, I am dedicating the February Chair letter to our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) mission, and invite our Chief of Diversity to share her thoughts:
Black History Month in the Department of Psychiatry
Each year, we dedicate the month of February to the memory of notable figures in African American history who have shaped and impacted our lives. It is important to remember that Black History Month is not limited to memorials, but also an opportunity for us to highlight the contributions of those who have shaped our working environment. This year, we focus on Walter P. Carter for whom our 701 clinic building is named.
Walter P. Carter was an activist in the Civil Rights Movement. He organized demonstrations to fight discrimination across the state of Maryland. He led efforts to fight for fair housing in this state. When he was nominated to head the Community Action Agency in 1968, then Comptroller William Donald Schaefer complained he was “too radical” and would move the city forward at an uncomfortable pace. In 1976, the Walter P. Carter Mental Health Hospital was established on 630 W. Fayette Street. When the hospital closed in 2009, the outpatient services were moved to the 701 W. Pratt Street building, which was renamed the Walter P. Carter Center on Jan 5, 2010.
In the memory of Walter P. Carter, we invite everyone in this Department to consider how we can move forward, even if at an “uncomfortable pace.” Social justice, anti-racism, and our DEI efforts remain critical to the mission of our Department. Please take some time to learn more about Walter P. Carter and understand how we can continue to embody the spirit of activism that he demonstrated for us all.
Sincerely,
Anique Forrester, MD
Chief of Diversity, and Director, Consultation-Liaison Fellowship, and
Jill A. RachBeisel, MD
Dr. Irving J. Taylor Professor and Chair, Department of Psychiatry
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The Department of Psychiatry Diversity Committee
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Please remember to visit our Hub!
The Diversity Committee continues to encourage all members of the Department to join our monthly meetings and to consider joining our sub-committees.
This year, we are focused on implementing DEI efforts across the Department, making DEI come alive and remaining integrated into our daily work. This effort requires each of us to commit to asking uncomfortable questions, taking time to review our environments, and taking the initiative to bring about change.
Save the Date: On Feb. 17, we welcome Dr. Helena Hansen (pictured above) for the Gundry Lecture.
We encourage everyone to contact Dr. Forrester at aforrest@som.umaryland.edu to share success stories regarding their DEI efforts or personal stories about individual engagement.
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Maryland Psychiatric Research Center
Conte Center Lecture (Virtual Seminar)
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Date: March 2
Time: 1-2pm
Speaker: Suzanne N. Haber, PhD, Professor, Department of Pharmacology and Physiology,
University of Rochester, School of Medicine and Dentistry; Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School
Title: “Linking Circuits to Psychiatric Disease and Neurotherapeutic Targets: From primate anatomy to human neuroimaging"
Save the Date: March 30 - Details forthcoming!
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Are you a trainee, staff member, or junior faculty interested in research but have:
· No data
· No research experience or skills
· No connections with Department researchers
...No problem! Join us to learn about two programs to get involved and add research experience to your CV:
1) Research Day Poster Judge Assistant, or
2) Research Clinical Quality Improvement Design Poster
Date & Time: Feb 10, from 6-7pm
What: Fun game (all the tough questions go to the researchers) with prizes (Dunkin Donut gift cards) and a brief program overview
Sponsored by: The Research Diversity Sub-Committee
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Date: April 28
Format:
8:30-11 am: In-person morning poster session at the Student Union
11 am-12 pm: Lunch
12-1 pm: Virtual Grand Rounds
Abstracts will be due on March 22 -- please check the internal email sent on 2/4 for details and forms.
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Employee Assistance Program |
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Date: February 18
Time: 9-11am
Speaker: Rachael Wallace, LCSW-C
Title: "Successful Dialogue on Uncomfortable Topics"
Host: Employee Assistance Program
Free webinar includes 2 CEUs for social workers and counselors
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Clinical Psychopharmacology Seminar |
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Date: February 25
Every month on the fourth Tuesday (until July 26, 2022)
Time: 12-1pm
Audience: Attendings, residents, NP post-grads, and students at MTC are required to attend. Nursing staff and social workers are encouraged to attend.
Topic: Join us for the latest research and updates on psychopharmological topics, as well as information on new releases and guidance on prescribing psychotropic medications. We also feature guest lecturers and presentations.
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Mark your calendars for the next Department of Psychiatry Faculty meeting, where Dean Reece will be joining us:
Date: March 10
Time: 12-1:30 pm
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Todd Gould, MD, was recently awarded a one-year Foundation grant from the Baszucki Brain Research Fund for $170,000 from 12/7/20-12/8/21.
He and his team will create a novel animal model of mania, establish the validity of this model to support research into the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder, and use this model to test the mechanisms underlying the effects of lithium on dopamine neurotransmission and manic-like behaviors.
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Lace Riggs, PhD, a recent graduate from Dr. Todd Gould’s laboratory, was awarded the 2022 Society for Biological Psychiatry Predoctoral Scholars Travel Fellowship Award.
The award recognizes excellence in scholarly activity by junior researchers, and provides the opportunity for individuals like Dr. Riggs to participate in special programming and networking.
Congratulations, Dr. Riggs!
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Stephanie Knight, MD, met with reporter Sarah Kim on the Daily Dose podcast (WYPR of NPR) and discussed barriers to vaccinations for people with mental illness. These included lack of: housing, food, transportation, and more.
Dr. Knight highlighted the importance of accessible psychiatric care at Midtown and the importance of encouraging vaccines for psychiatric patients. Listen to the interview here.
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The National Center for School Mental Health, with funding from the Maryland BHA and SAMHSA, are offering a free online video course, Parent CRAFT.
The self-paced course teaches parents skills to substance use among adolescents and young adults and encourages treatment. Parent CRAFT is free to all Maryland parents and caregivers.
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School Mental Health Virtual Learning Series
The National Center for School Mental Health kicked off the second portion of its Virtual Learning Series, which focuses on Cultural Responsiveness, Anti-Racism, and Equity (CARE), and Cultural Inclusiveness and Equity (CIE). The free webinar series is a collaboration with the Central East MHTTC and the Danya Institute.
The webinars are from 3-4pm ET on designated Wednesdays now through June 2022. Leadership includes co-directors Drs. Nancy Lever and Sharon Hoover, faculty members Drs. Kris Scardamalia and Tiffany Beason, and policy analyst Larraine Bernstein (pictured above).
Webinar information can be found here. Upcoming events include:
·Feb 2, CIE Part 2: Understanding How Educator Bias Impacts Student Mental Health
·Mar 2, CARE Best Practices in School Mental Health: Screening
·Apr 6, CIE Part 3: Engaging in Culturally Inclusive Classroom Actions to Promote Student Mental Health
·May 4, CARE Best Practices in School Mental Health: Universal Health Promotion
·Jun 1, CARE Best Practices in School Mental Health: Early Intervention and Treatment in Schools
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The School Mental Health Program would like to congratulate Janai Springer, LCSW-C, for passing her Licensed Certified Social Worker-Clinical (LCSW-C) exam.
This is Ms. Springer’s third year with the SMHP -- congratulations!
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David Mancini, MD, has recently earned his board certification in forensic psychiatry with the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
Congratulations, Dr. Mancini, and we look forward to your continued work with the Department!
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Sylvia McCree-Huntley, EdD, has spent 23 years with Psychiatry and an additional 10 years on Campus, and is known for her initiatives within Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and DEI.
She is the Director of Professional Development & Training for the National Center for School Mental Health, UMSOM, within the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Dr. Huntley coordinates the Strengthening Families Program, Mom Power Curriculum, Clinical Guidance for Treating Pregnant & Parenting Women with Opioid Use Disorder and Their Infants training, Fatherhood trainings, and the Maryland Healthy Transitions. She is a part of the Department of Psychiatry DEI Committee, and chairs the Staff Recruitment and Retention subcommittee and oversees the DEI Implementation for Fayette Street Clinic.
Dr. Huntley's doctoral degree is in counseling psychology, and she holds a master's degree in alcohol and drug counseling, as well as a bachelor’s degree in social work and psychology. Her clinical experience has been built on internships and direct services at Mountain Manor Treatment Center, Focus on Recovery, Baltimore City Detention Center, St. Agnes Hospital, Baltimore School Mental Health Initiative, and the School Mental Health Program. Her research interests focus on trauma, alcohol and substance use disorders among adolescents, and the homeless population, all which led to Dr. Huntley writing her children’s book, Embracing You.
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Andre' Thompson, MSW, BS, CSC-AD, currently serves as the Social Work Care Manager for the OUD MEETS Program (Opioid Use Disorder Medication Engagement and Enrollment Treatment Services).
He has worked with the hospital for six years in Psychiatry’s Ambulatory Substance Abuse and Mental Health. Thompson is a graduate of the Historically Black College/University Coppin State University with a bachelor's in Psychology, and he has a master’s degree from Morgan State University School of Social Work in Public Health.
Thompson has a strong passion for DEI, and is part of the Division of Addiction Research and Treatment DEI committee, Staff Recruitment and Retention sub-committee, and Social Justice sub-committee, and serves as one of the Division Implementors for DEI. Finally, he is very active with the National Association of Social Workers (Maryland Chapter) Legislative Committee.
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